James Murdoch, media scion, strikes deal for New York Magazine and Vox
[May 21, 2026] By
JOCELYN NOVECK
NEW YORK (AP) — Promising a commitment to "ambitious journalism and
agenda-setting conversations,” media scion James Murdoch has struck a
deal with the Vox Media digital company to acquire New York magazine,
the Vox Media Podcast Network and the Vox editorial brand.
The deal with Vox, widely seen as liberal-leaning, represents a major
move toward his own media empire for the 53-year-old younger son of
Rupert Murdoch, who himself owned New York Magazine from 1976 until
1991. And it comes less than a year after the Murdoch family reached a
deal on control of the 95-year-old mogul’s media empire after his death,
ensuring no change in direction at Fox News, the most popular network
for conservatives, under Rupert's chosen heir, Lachlan Murdoch.
Under the new deal, expected to close within weeks, Lupa Systems, James
Murdoch’s media company, acquires the three divisions — about half of
Vox Media. Neither Vox Media nor Lupa was disclosing the sum. The New
York Times cited people familiar with the matter saying it was more than
$300 million. The acquired divisions will operate, according to a
statement, as a subsidiary of Lupa — called Vox Media.
Lots included and some excluded
Not included in the deal are the Vox brands Eater, Popsugar, SB Nation,
The Dodo, and The Verge. But the deal does include, along with New York
magazine, its verticals The Cut, Vulture, Intelligencer, The Strategist,
Curbed, and Grub Street.
It also includes the Vox Media Podcast Network. which features wildly
popular shows like “Criminal” and “Pivot” with Kara Swisher and Scott
Galloway. The network “has been the fastest growing business within Vox
Media and will immediately put Lupa at the top of the podcast field,”
said the Vox statement.
James Murdoch, a former CEO of 21st Century Fox who resigned from the
board of News Corporation in 2020 over differences about content and
direction, is known to hold less conservative views than his father. In
the deal reached last year, James and his two older sisters. Prudence
MacLeod and Elisabeth Murdoch, gave up any claims to control of Fox in
exchange for stock valued at the time at $3.3 billion.
That deal created a trust establishing control of the Fox Corp. for
Lachlan Murdoch, along with his younger sisters, Grace and Chloe.
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James Murdoch arrives at St Bride's Church for the celebration
ceremony of the wedding of Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall in London,
March 5, 2016. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)
 In his own remarks about the Vox
deal, James Murdoch said the acquisition “aligns well with our
existing holdings and investments and reflects both our interest in
the forward edge of culture and our deep commitment to ambitious
journalism and agenda-setting conversations.
It will allow us to apply new tools across the businesses we are
building, adding substantial production, distribution, and editorial
capability to our group," Murdoch said.
Continuity in leadership expected
Current Vox chairman and CEO Jim Bankoff will lead the new Vox
Media, becoming CEO of the new company upon closing.
“We are incredibly proud to have built and scaled several of the
leading media properties of this generation,” Bankoff said.
“Together under Lupa’s stewardship we are primed to be the best home
for talent and the most dynamic media company of this new era.”
David Haskell, New York magazine's editor-in-chief, noted in an
email to subscribers that Lupa now becomes the magazine's sixth
owner since 1968.
Haskell promised that the magazine would continue with “the
fearless, independent journalism that you expect from us."
“We will continue to create news cycles, start conversations,
contribute to the most important debates in politics and society,
identify and explore what’s most interesting in contemporary
culture, and always do our best to challenge our readers, surprise
them, and help them make sense of the modern world,” Haskell said.
___
Jocelyn Noveck covers the intersection of media and entertainment
for The Associated Press.
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